Ambaric Apologizes

Astra smiled. "You don't have to keep apologising, Ambaric. I believe I've got used to the change, now." Her smile vanished. "I'm sorry Fred doesn't seem to like you."

"I'm used to it," Ambaric replied. "The soldiers garrisoned in the city don't seem to like magicians either, though they are more vocal about it."

Astra thought for a second. Dare she mention it? She hated to think it, but she'd prefer telling Ambaric to Fred. Especially in his current mood. "There's one another thing. I hate to say this, but Cedric the Elder's increased interest in me is quite disturbing."

Ambaric looked surprised. "Oh," he said. "I'd forgotten about that. According to the younger Cedric, there are phases he goes through where he has an unhealthy desire for a particular type of woman. Perhaps now it's for women with a darker shade of skin. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't that many in this country."

Astra gave an involuntary shiver of revulsion. To her, that was just plain wrong. She wouldn't say she was vain or anything, but she was used to getting admiring glances from males. Now if the elder Cedric was younger, say by about forty or so years, she wouldn't feel quite so revolted about it.

1. There's a frantic knock on the door. A distressed Cedric the Younger tells them that the elder Cedric is dead.
2. Lucieno, finally having enough of Velus, makes him mute.
3. There's a commotion downstairs. Some of the city's soldiers have burst their way in.

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